Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-01-06
Correspondence of the Beacon.)

CONTINENTAL HOTEL, PENSACOLA, FLA.
Messrs. Editors Please allow me space
in your columns 10 give your readers a
poor description Of points in West Florida
on the p. & A. r. r. from Mariana to Pen
sacola. My starting point (Mariana) is
handsome little town of about 1000 inhabi-
tants and is now enjoying big boom as
the Hotel Lloyds Co. are about perfecting
arrangements to begin spacious Hotel TO
be ready for the reception Of guests some
time during the coming Summer. When
this building is completed Mariana will
offer more attractions 10 plcasure-seekers
than any other town in Florida | will
mention here only few of its many at
fractions. viz: the Chipola river, naviga-
bic stream which empties into the Chatta-
hoochee. The Chipola in one place passes
out OF sight under the ground and comes
to light again mile further on, forming a
natural bridge with an immense cavern at
its upper end. Four miles from the natur-
al bridge is cave with stalacties and sta
lagmites Of great beauty, and a little further
on is the Long Mass Spring, the prettiest
pool of water the eye ever beheld. The
water is forced up through rock more
than hundred feet below the surface with
such force that bricks thrown into the boil
will not sink until they slide out of the
boil's reach.
The next town of note is Chipley, a thriv-
ing burg whose rapid increase in build
ings since last year could but notice 1t
is surprising how rapid towns in Florida
grow. Next is Coneyville, a large milling
point and where the Choctawhatchee river
Steamers connect with the p. * A. II. r
for fruit shipped TO points in Alabama.
Leaving here we pass several small places
till De FuGiak Springs is reached. This is
a wonderful place. Three years ago it was
unoticed. Then its beautiful springs, three
hundred feet above the sea, sixty-four feet
deep and located in the depths of the piney
woods, attracted the speculative eye of Col.
Chipley, who built the Hotel Chautauqua,
where first-clasS meals are served ~ pas
sengers ca route To and from New Orleans
Besides this house there are two other no.
tells and all are now filled with Northern
visitors. Two other hotels are going up and
nearly completed. II such place can Sc,
cure so many visitors Mariana will certain.
~ rival Townsville soon after her first
hotel is finished. Next comes Milton TWEEN.
ty miles from Pensacola. This also is DIES.
tined 10 become favorite resort, all that is
needed being large hotels. After leaving
Milton we travel through an immense for.
est till Escsmbia Bay is reached and there
comes the most interesting part OF nay jour
ney. For twelve miles We are in full view
of the Escambia, NOSE beautiful sheet o.
water, the track being laid just above high
water-mark and at the base Of towering
bluffs which impart TO the bay one of il,
most striking characteristics. Situated or
many of these bluffs are beautiful pleas
ure resorts.
The last point in my route is the city o
Pensacola. Here, spent n day. II is 1
beautiful town Of about u 900 inhabitants
A stranger entering IL from ths Cult woulC
think il had ten times that number judginG
from the large number of square riggeS
vessels laying in lis harbor. counted on,
hundred and thirty of these large ship,
many Of which came there in ballast q
carry away iam6SF, Lumbar seems 20 h
its chief interest. Ii Is also a great fisl
market and large distributing point 70
Fertilizers. The city is located on tn,
west side Of the splendid hay Of Pensacola
about seven miles from the Gulf Of Mexico
II Is defined To become large commerce
al town as il - the neaEeSs oatlek FoS tn
Coal and Iron interest Of Alabama Acros
the bag l. the Navy Ysrd and jus, bsyonS
the historic Fort Pickens, where the Indial
Chief Geronimo is confined with nine O
his braves, i've, was told having died sine
their arrival Geronimo is an oriinarr
looking Indian but Mangus Is a fine look
Ing has. they SeeIs % - t~kiag IEsi
confinement very hard, their greatest gris
being caused b. separation from thei
wives Of which Geronimo has six. He
: great begSaF and was very anxious tina
l should giSe hiE nay watch ehsna..
TOOK hold Of lock Of his hair and askt.